Today on the podcast, we have part five in our series, Screenwriting with Walt. This is the story of

Walt Disney and Larry Watkin, as the Disney studio in the 1950s works to transform itself from a modest

animation company to a major studio that produces live action movies, TV, and even has its own amusement park.

In looking over Walt's life, it's clear that Walt wanted to move his studio in new directions

in 1939 and 1940. He explored building a themed visitor center and park on the Burbank

studio lot. This story is discussed in our series

on Herb Reiman. He also formed a company with Ben Crosby to create something similar to New York's

Madison Square Garden only in Los Angeles. That story is told over on Bandcamp in a four-part album called Walt's First Park.

Both of these projects had their own issues, but one of the largest reasons they fell apart was

the timing. America was slowly moving toward World War II during these years. The war also meant that many European markets were closed to

American films, which meant that some Disney movies lost money, such as Fantasia, while others

such as Pinocchio barely made a profit. It wasn't until the late 1940s and 1950s that Walt and his studio were on sure financial footing

where such expansion could then take place.

During Walt's lifetime, the pictures he created with screenwriter Larry Watkin were some

of his best-known offerings, films that were regularly re-released and then later showed up on the Disney TV series.

If you were born anywhere between 1940 and 1980, these films for you were likely as well known as Snow White or Lady and the Tramp.

It is through these early efforts with Larry Watkin that Walt teaches

himself how to develop live action with a Disney touch, and also how to compete directly with

studios like Warner Brothers and Paramount. We've already looked at early projects that Disney

filmed in the UK, such as Treasure Island

and Robin Hood.

And today we'll primarily take a look at two films.

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